Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Perhaps, it is because I am single or maybe this is true for married girls too but for me a having a housewarming party was super important. When you are single you don't get the benefit of a bridal shower, so setting up home can be a huge and expensive ordeal. When I lived in CA every time I moved I wished that someone would give me a housewarming gift. (I seem to recall getting a toaster from my parents but I think that was for Christmas, and a kind old man next door brought me half of a pie once.) It never really made sense to me that we (Americans) provide everything a married couple would need for setting up a home, but expect a single person to do it alone. (normally with 1/2 the income)

When I decided to move to Rome I kinda gave up hope of a housewarming because I figured most my friends would be in CA and that is a bit of a jaunt. But, part of me still longed for the celebration of this wonderful new apartment. So, I threw myself a housewarming party in Rome and invited all my friends. Many came and we had a great night together.

But, maybe even more special (or at least equally special to me) was that one of my friends back in CA decided to throw me a long distance housewarming party. She sent out e-vites to all my girl friends inviting them to take part in my long distance housewarming party. All they had to do was browse through magazines or online and find something that they would like to give me for my new home, they would get the picture and some cash or check to her and she would make sure all the money and pictures got to me. So, the other day the money got deposited into my account, and the pictures and names of those who picked the pictures are being emailed to me today, and then I get to go shopping!!!

I decided to blog about this because I thought it was such a fantastic idea! It made my day that my friends back in CA wanted to be part of the celebration of my new home, and I think it would be splendid if this idea long distance or at home spread. Because setting up home can be a challenge for anyone, and yet it should be a joy. And having my friends here in Rome and in CA involved in the making of my new home makes it all the more special.

So, if you are reading this and you are one of the firends who has helped make my apartment home, Thank you!!! If you know someone who is just getting started out on their own, and are looking for a way to show them how much you love and support them, than I encourage you to steal this idea, even if they are miles away from you!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Friday, September 24, 2010

It is hard to believe, but today I went to the bank and got them to give me 3 checks (the transaction was done in Italian! By myself!) In an hour I will go to the Apartment Agency and give them the 3 checks and sign a pile of papers, and then I WILL HAVE AN APARTMENT!!!!!

I am so excited!
I am excited because I have not had my own place since May April 2008
I am excited because it is clear that this specific apartment is where God wants me to live
I am excited because of His perfect timing (as my mom pointed out, no time or money was wasted. I stayed Claire's and then at Brian and Sarah's till now, and today they returned.)
I am excited because I will have a HOME
I am excited because I have great friends here who have offered their services to help me get moved in and set up
I am excited because friends back in the US have been soooo supportive an some even want to help me get a few things to make it home!
I am really excited that I made it through this process in Italian on my own, a big step that would not have been possible a month ago, and proves that I am learning something!

Last friday I found maybe not the house of my dreams, but instead the house of my prayers. I moved to Rome just a bit more than two months ago and ever since have been searching for an apartment to call my home. On friday God finally provided the perfect place!

The appartment is sixty square meters and is located near Appiano train station. It is also only 2 or 3 minutes from a nice park with a beautiful sunset. The appartment has a nice large entry way, a good size livingroom with a nice window and good light. I love that the kitchen has all new furnishings, as does the rest of the place, but the kitchen is my favorite. Outside of the kitchen is a nice balcony, where I could drink coffee in the morning.Down the hallway there is the bedroom, which has a huge closet and 2 beds, which I will push together to make one. But what I really love about it is that there is a chandelier hanging above the bed.

The bathroom is fine, but nothing special. It does have a shower, which I like. And there is a washing machine. At first I thought I wanted an unfurnished apartment but now that I have found this place I am so relieved that I do not have to buy all of these things.

The living room even has a dinning room set, and a Hide-a-bed and a TV. I am very excited that I will get to move into the house of my prayers this week!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

This last month apt hunting has been to say the least discouraging. In fact on Monday I was so over it that I took myself on a long walk around the neighborhood. I ended up sitting in a park near in the rain crying out to God. Then as I walked back to the apt I have been borrowing I began to see signs for apt for rent. And I realized how much I would love to live near that park. I jotted down some numbers and returned to the apt a bit ore hopeful than earlier in the day.

When I thought about calling all those apt owners in my not so fantastic Italian I got intimidated and gave up. Then this morning I turned on my computer and discovered an email from an apt agency suggesting an apt in the area I had been looking, in my price range, and it even said they wanted a non Italian to rent it!

During my 15 min break at school my phone rang, and I answered and spoke with the Realtor who spoke English! And by the end of my 15 min break, I he had scheduled an apt for me to look at the apt with the Landlady tomorrow at 3:30!

Please be praying that this is the right apt. That it truly is the gift that it feels like.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

This one is not far from where I have been staying, it is within my price range, and is completely unfurnished. Have I mentioned to you that it is next to impossible to find an empty apt. for rent here. Most come completely furnished with Grandma like or 1980's like decor. Lovely.

So, the fact that is is nearby, and empty are big pluses. It also has a balcony and is close to many buses! Something I had not given much thought to until arriving in Rome.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I knew, but I did not understand that life here in Roma in August all but stops. Sure there are still massive amounts of tourists, but for the most part every mom and pop shop closes. I knew this, I had read it in countless books, but until this week I did not realize the full effect that this would have on my day to day life. You see it is not only the mom and pop (mama and papa negozi) shops that shut their doors (chiudere le loro porte) Ikea stops stocking, restaurants stop serving, mailboxes etc. stops shipping, and real estate agents stop showing. Turns out that this is not the time to be searching for apartments (non il tempo alla ricerca di appartamenti in Roma)

Ah well, this too shall pass. And with the time I have time to study my Italian (il tempo di studiare il mio italiano), and get to know my new friends(di conoscere i miei nuovi amici). I have time to spend with God (ho tempo per stare con Dio) and time to explore my new city(tempo per esplorare la mia nuova città)! Non c'è' male!

So, in line with the Italian way of doing things you can expect very little action on this blog in August.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Well, today I woke up early and headed out to catch the 628 across Roma. Of course I stopped in at my thus far favorite neighborhood coffee bar for a Cappuccino Freddo before hopping on the bus. Things were going my way today, it was slightly less hot, I got my chilled caffeinated beverage and I caught my bus just as it pulled up, I made it all the way across Roma on 1 bus (A Miracle) and arrived at just about the same time as my Team Leader Brian and 15 min early! Just before I got to the Remax office I began to feel a bit worried about such a huge commitment, so I prayed as I walked, and God reminded me of the passage in John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

and so I went and we wrote a proposal, and I signed it a number of times, and of course being that it is Italy there was a stamp placed on the proposal. (they love to stamp things here) So now all I must do is wait.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Saturday, July 17, 2010

I have spent the last 14 months browsing Roman Apt online, trying to get a feel for them, dreaming a bit of course and pray about where God wants me to be living. Yesterday I finally got to go look at my first Roman Apt for Affito (rent). Here is the thing, I just turned 30, ahhhh and this is really the first time in my whole life that I will get to pick out where I want to live. You see I have always lived at home, or with friends, or in camp housing. (I did technically pick my last apt, but it was the only thing I could afford, and really my only option at that point, so that is not much of a choice.) So now here I am picking through literally 100's of apt in the city of Rome. Wheew.

Back to my story, so yesterday at 10am I went with my team leader to look at my first apt option! To give you an idea of life in Rome, this apt is in the same area as my team leaders, but a slightly different neighborhood, and I had to take a bus or a train to get to the apt. Well you could walk, we walked home but it is still crazy to me that I would take a train to my apt. (small town girl)

So we got to the apt and before arriving all I knew from the online ad was that it was 80 meters squared and E900 a month or $1169, (my budget is $1200). Which is a great price for that amount of space in Rome. I also knew it was unfurnished which is fantastic, as you know because I really, really want to set up my own home the way I want it. Most apt in Rome come at least partly furnished with Italian's furniture, extra house goods, and even wall hangings, and rugs. They tend to have more than one apt, should their grown children need a place to stay.

Anyway, that is what I knew. So when the Realtor came to show us the place I was pretty excited to see it. I took pictures, but they are on Sarah's camera so you will have to wait to see it. But I will try to give you a visual. It is downstairs on the street level, but on a quiet street, actually faces the parking lot for the set of apt. The door is a large wooden door with a handle in the middle. You push it open after wiggling the ancient looking key to reveal a newly repainted apt. There is an entry way, with storage in it, and the bedroom is off to the left. The bedroom has one window/finestra directly across from the door/porta. The best part of the bedroom is that it has one whole wall of built-in shelves and cupboards all freshly painted white/bianca. This would save me from having to buy storage and shelves at IKEA or Mondo (an Italian store like IKEA)

From the entry way there is another kinda 1/2room/1/2 hallway with doors to the Kitchen/La cucina, the Bathroom/lo bagno, and the living room/lo soggiorno. The bathroom is small, as most are here, and the shower/la doccia is well super tiny, but does have a place to sit. (it is my least favorite part of the place. The window is nice, as is the fact that every room including la doccia has a heater that I can control digitally! A big plus in Italy, where the landlady often controls your heating. The living room is quite large for Italian standards a plus in doing ministry, with ample space for home group or youth to hang out. Freshly painted bianca with french door style widows that open to a patio area. You could either walk that way out onto the patio and into the kitchen or back through the hall into la cucina. Which is nice because you can circle about and not have trafic flow problems. La cucina in Italy often comes with nothing. As in you must go to IKEA (pronounced eh-kay-a) and or Mondo and order a kitchen to be installed, that is the case here. It is a small space, but bigger than many. I kinda like this option, as it means I would not only get to choose my apt but my kitchen as well! It is not large enough for a table it is more like a wide hallway, but since there is a patio and that hallway/room space you could eaisly put a table either or both places. All the rooms except the living room have huge amounts of cupboards which means lots of storage for all the things I do not own :) The patio is a good size but would need a plant/vine of some sort put up on the open area to grant some privacy from the parking lot. Another normal thing here.